Moreland Joins Rangers' DL Party

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Mitch Moreland is back to doing, sadly, what Mitch Moreland does, but this time it's just more serious.

It seems ever since his breakout call-up in 2010 and his great run that postseason, Moreland has been trying to duplicate that small sample over the course of an entire big-league season, and the Rangers repeatedly gave him chances to win the everyday first base job.

After two straight years marred with injury and lack of performance, the Rangers went and traded for an all-star caliber first baseman in Prince Fielder, and we all know how that turned out. Fielder's season-ending surgery handed Moreland the job again, but now, he's hurt again.

Moreland is most likely, or he might as well be, out for the season after it was revealed on Sunday that he'd decided to have ankle reconstruction surgery after trying to play through ankle pain all season with injections, orthotics and wraps. It just didn't work. And if you're wondering if the surgery is as serious as it sounds, it is.

His season most likely ends with Moreland, who will turn 29 in September, hitting .246 with just two homers after he hit 23 a year ago. The injury has basically taken away his legs, which is obviously a huge, important part of a baseball swing.

Moreland entered the spring as a massive question mark to be a Ranger when the season began as speculation ran rampant about him being a trade piece with Fielder being in the picture. Several clubs were interested in Moreland but the Rangers opted to use him as a DH, occasional first baseman and occasional corner outfielder.

Now, we'll have to see what the Rangers' plans are for Moreland, who isn't a free agent until 2017, heading into the 2015 season.